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Staffing for Technical Support
Advice on key questions about technology staffing at nonprofits
September 5, 2006
Technology staffing can be a challenge for nonprofits. You need technical services to support your mission, but technology is not often a core competency. As a result, your technology needs may be understaffed, inconsistently supported, or even overstaffed.
This downloadable guide distills NPower New York's interactions with multiple organizations, large and small, and offers advice on key questions about technology staffing, including:
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Hiring: Should you hire someone dedicated to technical support? If so, for what tasks?
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Managing: Do you need a manager or a technician? Can one person be both?
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Growing: When should you add to your existing technical staff?
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Coping: Can your program staff help as "accidental techies"?
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Sourcing: When might external suppliers be worth considering?
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Spending: How much is reasonable to spend on technology support?
About NPower NY:
NPower NY's mission is to ensure that all nonprofits can use technology to expand the reach and impact of their services. NPower NY is the second oldest and the largest affiliate in the NPower Network, a national network of local nonprofits that help other nonprofits use technology to better serve their communities.
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About the Author:
Alex Wilkinson, Ph.D., is Professor of Practice at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in IT planning, information privacy and security, network management, and innovation in information industries.
Staffing for Technical SupportCopyright © 2006 NPower NY. All Rights Reserved.
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